Last.



P. H. HICKMAN.

LAST.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 30fI9I4,`

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

0 31a/femm@ 'UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

PATRICK I-I. HICKIVIAN, OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR OE ONE-HALF T0 THOMAS ALOYSIUS HICKMAN, OF IRVINGTON, NEW JERSEY.

LAST.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented A110'. 21, 1917.

Application med December 3o, 1914. serial No. 879,742.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, PATRICK I-I. HICKMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at 995 Clinton ave., Irvington, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to lasts and more especially to shoe lasts.

The primary obj ect of the invention is the provision of a shoe last comprising two movable sections designed for the purpose of contraction and expansion, in order that the same can, when contracted, be readily inserted within a shoe, boot or the like and then expanded for the purpose of stretching the article in which it is disposed.

Anotherobj ect of the invention is the provision of a last such as described which embodies means for retaining the movable sections thereof in their contracted position.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a last including two movable sections, which are so constructed at the meeting edges thereof that the same will engage at all points, consequently preventing weakening when strain is necessitated in eX- panding the same when the said last is positioned within a shoe.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a last including two movable sections, with means positioned therein for movably connecting said sections and limiting their movements in one direction, the said last being provided with contacting shoulders for limiting the movement of the sections in the opposite direction.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of a last, which will be comparatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture, reliable and eiiicient in use, and readily operated.

With the above and other objects in view the present invention consists of the novel features of construction, formations, combinations and arrangements of parts to be hereinafter more particularly described, claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, it being understood that various minor changes in the specicdetails of construction can be resorted to `within the scope of the appended claims, Without des' parting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawingforming a part of this application:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the last partly in section, showing the same eX- tended.

F ig. 2 is a similar view showing the same contracted. l

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Fig. l is a view showing in plan and side elevation, the sleeve.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the locking ball.

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the spring, and

Fig.' 7 is aview showing the latch plate in edge and side elevations.

Referring to the accompanying drawing by similar characters of reference to illustrate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 8 denotes in genera-l my improved last which comprises a toe section 9 and heel section 10. The meeting edges of these sections 9 and 10 are preferably convex and concave respectively as at 12 and 11 so that they will be at all times in engagement as the heel section is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby eliminating all strain when the last is placed within a shoe and moved to extended position. The heel section 10 of the last is provided with an opening or socket, which opens through the upper side thereof and receives a bushing 13 which prevents any undesired wearing of the heel section when the last is placed upon its stand or other means of support.

The curved surfaces 11 and 12 of the heel and toe sections are provided with angularly disposed abutting shoulders 14 and 15 which limit the relative movement of the sections 9 and 10 when the said last is contracted, while the opposite end of the curved surface 12 terminates in the transverse lip 16 which engages the underside of the heel section 10 limiting the movement thereof when the said last is extended.

Recesses 17 and 18 are provided in the meeting edges of the sections 9 and 10. The recess 18 is preferably of an inverted L shape comprising angularly disposed channels 19 and 20. A hinging plate 21 is rigidly secured within the channel 19 as shown at 22 and projects into the recess 17. The plate 21 is formed with slots which curve to conform to the curvature of the surfaces 11 and 12. Pins 23 are secured Within the toe section eXtending transversely of the recess 17 and through the slots 22, and form means for movably connecting the sections 9 and 10. It should be noted that the slots 22 are of sufficient length to permit of the proper movement of the heel section 10 relative to the toe section 9.

A plate 24 is secured `Within the channel 2O engaging the upper side of the plate 21 and projecting into the recess 17. This plate assists in holding the sections in their contracted 'position 'as will vpresently loe eX- plained and Will be hereinaftertermed a latch plate for the purpose of distinguishing itzfromythe before `mentioned plate 21.

A pin 25 passes through the outer end of they latch plate 24 firmly retaining the same Within the channel 20, While a similar pin 26 passes through the inner end of this plate for 4pivotallyconnecting the latter zto the toe rsection 9. A split sleeve 27 is disposed Within the recess 17 and has alining apertures 28 and 29 formed in the opposite ends thereof and notches 30 for permitting the insertion therein of the adjacent end of the latch plate 24. The vpin 26 which supports the latch plate 24 passes through the opening 29 While the opposite end of the sleeve is held rigid relative to the section 9 by a pin l31 Which passes through the apertures 28. The inner end of the latch plate 24 has its upper corner cut away forming a seat 32 for engagement with a `loall, when the last is yin `its contracted position while a spring 84 is disposed Within the sleeve 27 ,in engagement Withvthe .pin 31 and ball 33, serving at 4all times lto yieldingly force said `hall against the curved seat82 for the @purpose of automatically forcing the heel section upvvar'dfly and the shoulders 14 and 15 into engagement and further for retaining them in this position.

It Will be, lnoted that the front corners of the heel section are rounded as `at 35 While the rear ycorners of the toe section are eX- tended ,slightly to for-m a channel 36 in which theadjacent end of the heel vsection is received. This arrangement holds the sections 9 and 10 against any undesired lateral movement.

From the foregoingdisclosures it Will be manifest that a last is provided Which `vv-ill fulfil `all of the necessary 4requirements of such a device.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a last, a heel-section having a recess therein, a toe section having a relatively large recess therein, a plate hingedly A-connecting said sections together, a relatively long lever fixed at one of its `ends inthe rccess ofthe heel section land projecting into the recess of the toe section, the greater portion ofrsaid lever lying in the latter recess, a sleeve confined in the in'nerend of the recess of the toe portion and having pivotal connect-ion with-said lever, said `lever having its'end which is` pivotally connected to said sleeve provided With a sea-twhich is confined Within said sleeve, a ball disposed vWithin said slee-ve and engagingsaid seat, and a spring Within the sleeve adapted to engage the hall to force the latter normally into engagement With said seat.

2. A last comprising two expansible and contractible sections, one of Which has a relatively deep recess, a relatively long lever rigidly connected to one'of the sect-ions and having the greater portionsof its length eX- tending into the recess of the other section, a sleeve ymounted kin the recess of ysaid recessed vsection and 4having pivotal connection with sai dy lever, the lever adjacent its :point of pivotal connection 'having a -seat Which is confined Within said sleeve, and a spring pressed ball confined Within the sleeve and adapted to be normally located in the seat of said lever to force said sections normally in their contracted lposition.

In testimony whereof I-affiX lmy signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PATRICK I-I. I-IICKMAN.

Witnesses ALBERT Somma, EMIT A. KERNs.

`(topics of this patent. may be obtained for 've cents each, byraddressing vthe Commissioner of Taten'ts. Washington, I). G. 

